Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXIMaclaren, Alexander
Religion
Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chaps. XV to XXI
Maclaren, Alexander
Bible. John -- Commentaries
If you want to see Christ, do His will. One act of obedience has more
power to clear a man's eyes than hours of idle contemplation; and one
act of disobedience has more power to dim his eyes than anything
besides. It is in the dusty common road that He draws near to us, and
the experience of those disciples that journeyed to Emmaus may be ours.
He meets us in the way, and makes 'our hearts burn within us.' The
experience of the dying martyr outside the city gate may be ours.
Sorrows and trials will rend the heavens if they be rightly borne, and
so we shall see Christ 'standing at the right hand of God.' Rebellious
tears blind our eyes, as Mary's did, so that she did not know the
Master and took Him for 'the gardener.' Submissive tears purge the eyes
and wash them clean to see His face. To do His will is the sovereign
method for beholding His countenance.
Brethren, is this our experience? You professing Christians, do you see
Christ? Are your eyes fixed upon Him? Do you go through life with Him
consciously nearer to you than any beside? Is He closer than the
intrusive insignificances of this fleeting present? Have you Him as
your continual Companion? Oh! when we contrast the difference between
the largeness of this promise--a promise of a thrilling consciousness
of His presence, of a vivid perception of His character, of an
unwavering certitude of His reality--and the fly-away glimpses and
wandering sight, and faint, far-off views, as of a planet weltering
amid clouds, which the most of Christian men have of Christ, what shame
should cover our faces, and how we should feel that if we have not the
fulfilment, it is our own fault! Blessed they of whom it is true that
they see 'no man any more save Jesus only'! and to whom all sorrow,
joy, care, anxiety, work, and repose are but the means of revealing
that sweet and all-sufficient Presence! 'I have set the Lord always
before me, therefore I shall not be moved.'
II. Now notice, secondly, these bewildered disciples.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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